Football: Defending section champion Pierz eyes return trip to state

The defending Section 6AA champion Pierz football team works on blocking drills during the opening week of practice. Pictured are (from left): juniors Andy Charnley and Will Pappenfuss and freshman David Skiba.

For the Pierz football team, the objective is straightforward: stay healthy and good things will happen.

That’s because the Pioneers return the majority of their starters from a squad that won the Central Minnesota Conference and ran away with the Section 6AA championship a year ago.

Add to that a group of experienced players ready to step in and contribute and the Pioneers should be in the mix to repeat both feats if they can keep their players on the field this fall.

Leading the way is senior running back and linebacker Josh Lanners, the 2011 Morrison County Record Player of the Year.

Lanners was a dynamic force on both sides of the ball, rushing for 1,320 yards and 19 touchdowns on offense and making 53 solo tackles while assisting on 40 more on defense.